Mobile Telephone Unit Serial Protocol Translation for TCP/IP
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing data connection between mobile phones and devices, such as vehicles, is limited due to the lack of direct TCP/IP support, restricting the use of online services and requiring tethering options which may not be available, leading to additional costs or the need for new mobile phones.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a serial connection between a device's communication unit and a mobile telephone unit using protocols like Android Open Accessory Protocol or Apple Accessory Protocol, which allows for a TCP/IP connection by translating headers and maintaining the data field unchanged, enabling transparent communication without requiring additional hardware or special phone versions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tethering is used to establish TCP/IP connection between mobile phone and device, then online services can be accessed, but service providers can contractually or technically restrict the tethering function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer in the mobile phone that converts serial protocol data into TCP/IP packets. This mediator enables TCP/IP communication without requiring tethering, as the translation happens locally on the device rather than through a service provider-controlled connection.
2Ease of manufacture
If serial protocols like Bluetooth Serial Port Profile or Android Open Accessory Protocol are used for data exchange, then connection can be established, but native TCP/IP connection is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the protocol parameter by implementing a translation layer that converts serial protocol data formats into TCP/IP packet formats. This allows the system to maintain compatibility with existing serial protocols while achieving TCP/IP connection capabilities through parameter transformation.
3Device complexity
If tethering option is not available, then no additional hardware cost is incurred, but full functionality of vehicle cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/tethering-based connection system with a software-based protocol translation system. Instead of requiring physical tethering hardware or special phone versions, the solution uses software to translate serial protocols into TCP/IP, maintaining full vehicle functionality without additional hardware.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for communication between a communication unit (12) of a device (14) and an external communication unit (16) via a mobile telephone unit (18). It is provided that a serial connection (52) is established between the communication unit (12) of the device (14) and the mobile telephone unit (18), wherein a protocol (56) of the serial connection (52) comprises a data field (62) and a first header (60), that a connection (54) is established between the mobile telephone unit (18) and the external communication unit (16), that a second header (66) for the connection (54) is generated in the mobile telephone unit (18) from the first header (60), and that the data field (62) is transferred unchanged from the serial connection (52) to the connection (54). The object of the invention is to provide an online connection via a mobile telephone unit even without a TCP/IP connection.